I've seen a photo of Robert Mitchum in the 1950s wearing a dark trenchcoat, either black or navy blue (the photo is b&w so it's impossible to tell which). But for what it's worth I have rarely seen dark trenchcoats in old photos.
Perhaps the owners of trenchcoats of a different colour are more reluctant to show them. In wintry weather a classic hat and trenchcoat exudes style. Whilst I do have a beige trenchcoat, which I wear with a brown suit, I also have a navy one and this one. The colour is a mix of grey and green. In artificial light it's more grey, in sunlight there's definitely a green hue to it. The lining is fastened by a zipper and can be removed when the weather is warm but wet. I bought it from a stall holder at a WW2 event held at a heritage railway. (Steam trains and all that.) My missus isn't here to photo me in it but when I get the chance, I'll ask her to photograph me wearing it and show you how well it compliments my grey suit.
Good points, thanks for the info!
You are right about the colour, it does have a military appearance, but I thought that the military had double breasted coats, or am I confusing it with the British officer's uniform?
The US Army issued heavy wool d-b coats as a stopgap for a shortage of winter clothing for a couple winters early in Europe but once the M1943 jackets and liners became available the greatcoats went away at least on the front line. Officers often wore a cotton trenchcoat with liner. Generals, however, who were not in the front line, later in the war were often wearing coats like the one you have, which after the war became widely issued in the Army and for the USAF as well.
First issued in 1961? That seems late, unless that's when they were widely issued. It's a somewhat puzzing topic: I've posted photos of identical coats being worn during WW2, so perhaps generals and senior officers had them made up or private purchase during the war, and only later the military adopted the design for actual issue. If anyone knows more, please post.
